Smoking charge



Jan. 29, 1935. v J. L. BROWN 1,989,130

SMOKING CHARGE Filed Feb. 21, 1929 INVENTOR (WW may ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1935 4 1,989,130

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SMOKING CHARGE John L. Brown, Catonsville, Md., assignor of onehalf to William W. Varney, Baltimore, Md.

Application February 21, 1929, Serial No.. 341,836

7 Claims. (01. 131-52) Theobject of my invention is the producing same are filled, the presence of high winds, and of a smoking charge for pipe smokers. from many other causes, resulting in a waste of A further object of my invention is the protobacco. Very often the containers in which the ducing of a smoking charge the container of tobacco is carried in the pocket are leaky, causing 6 which is substantially neutral and consumable an annoying and untidy condition in the pocket.

with th charge, I Again, pipes as ordinarily filled with tobacco are A further object of my invention -is the ,prooften difficult to light and keep burning, owing to viding of smoking charges attached for packimperfect ignition initially and imperfect draught ing and selling purposes, but which may be within the tobacco. My new smoking charge 10 easily detached when desired for consumption. overcomes all of ,these difficulties. l0

A'further object of my invention is the produc- In the first place, a condition of cleanliness tion of a smoking charge that will substantially is obtained by the charge being carried in the feed a smoking receptacle and easily prepared pocket, each charge being continuously attached therein for draught to provide combustion. to the other and broken oii as desired. This pre- A further object of my invention is the method vents the littering of the consumer's pocket and 15 of making this new smoking charge that I have the charge can be loaded into the smokers pipe inv nt d, I under any weather conditions at any time with- A further object of my invention is an ap-- out loss of tobacco. paratus to accomplish this purpose. The lighting of the charge is easily accom- A further object of my invention is the proplished by li hti the tip of the smokin charge, duction of a smoking charge which may be carwhen a uniform and continuous combustion is ried by a heated and perspiring person without had through the entire mass, the container burninjury to the smoking charge or annoyance to the ing with uniformity transmits the fire to the edges person, that is, substantially water and heatafter it has been started in the center. The conproof, tainer being of neutral material, does not afiect 25 A further object of my invention is the providthe. flavor unless it is desirable, in which event ing of a soft, pliable and substantially hermetithe container is conditioned, flavored or colored cally sealed smoking charge. according to the smokers taste, by soaking in a Afurther object of my invention is the applicasolution. I have found that a petunia and a cas- 80 tion of a product of cellulose to a smoking coming solution formed by soaking Havana tobacco pound, in water in varying strength can be used. I have ,A further object of my invention is the treatused 1 pound of tobacco in 5 gallons of water as a ing a cellulose substance of viscose with a flavorcasing compound. This does not dissolve the ing for smoking purposes. wrapper, but adheres and forms a desired color A further object of my invention is the formand flavor thereof when viscose is used, as de- 35 ing of the cellulose or a viscose compound into scribed later.

a smoking article. In the drawing of the herein described embodi- A further object of my invention is the pro- 'ment of my invention, Figure 2 is a side view in viding a smoking article orpharge as a cigaelevation of a section of a continuous. portion of 40 rette shape which is or may be divided at will my smoking charge twisted up into individual to give the requisite amount for a single charge. charges; Fig. 1 is a section of my smoking charge A further object of my invention is the formbefore twisting up; Fig. 3 shows a pipe in which ing of continuous lengths of smoking charges that one of my individual charges is being prepared may be separated according to the desire of the for smoking; Fig. 4 is a section view of a mould consumer into individual smoking charges. for moulding or drying the bunch before the same 45 With the foregoing and other objects in view, is coated with the viscose, and for use after the my invention consists of the methods employed, coating with the viscose; the mould may be" for combination and arrangement of systems, appaforming cigars with shaped ends, or may be of ratus and means as hereinafter specifically prothe same cross-section at the ends for cigarettes vided and described, but it is understood that or any other desired configuration.

changes, variations and modifications may be re- Similar numerals refer to similar parts sorted to which come within the scope of the throughout the several views. claims hereunto appended. 1 is the coating of viscose. 2 is the smoking Pipe smokers have diflicultyin filling their pipes charge, such as tobacco. 3 is the top section of owing to the clumsy receptacles from which the themould which may be Jacketed'as shown in the 55 drawing for heating purposes, and 4 is the bottom section of the mould, the tobacco being laid in the bottom section of the mould and the top section jammed down on it which dries it, leaving it in a solid, smooth form for coating. If desired, the coated smoking bunch may be again placed in the bottom mould and the top section pressed thereon curing the container.

To accomplish the above results I can best illustrate my meaning by citing the well-known and familiar means of stufiing sausages, where the meats are forced into a container and the latter is twisted at intervals to provide definitely portioned sausage units. I have discovered that smoking mixtures, such as tobaccos and their apportioned mixtures and flavors, may be fed through a spout and into a container formed out of what is known on the market as viscose, which I will later describe as being very well adapted for this purpose. The viscose being moistened can be shaped and formed into a container and will adhere to itself, forming a continuous tube. This is filled as a sausage skin is filled and at predetermined intervals separated into units as sausage is separated. The aggregate of the units being attached are properly coiled and packed in condition to receive the Government stamps for sale.

I have thus briefly illustrated one method for forming my smoking charge. Another, and a very well-known method for forming my smoking charge, is the making of capsules out of viscose and fllling the capsules with apportioned smoking mixtures, either by hand or by any of the familiar capsules filling machines. These capsules may be made by moistening the sheet viscose and forming the same in a male and a female die and cutting, or by any other well-known process of capsule making; or the fluid, or semifiuid, viscose may be used to make capsules in a manner similar to that used in the manufacture of gelatine capsules by coating a die in fluid,

curing the same and .then stripping and cutting.

Another very satisfactory method is the making of large diameter cigarettesin the usual way using viscose or a similar wrapper containing similar properties. This form may be made as a continuous product as the cigarettes are before cutting and led oi! and coiled, an ordinary cigarette machine being used for larger diameters; the cellophane being moistened for working purposes and adhesion upon itself, as set forth in another application, or a paste may be used suitable for viscose, such as a solution thereof, and thus maintaining its intactness under wet conditions. If it is desired to have the smoking charges in sausage-like links, sections of the continuous cigarette may be twisted either by hand or automatically (the object of another application) forming sausage as it may be expressed; the moistening of the viscose renders it extremelytough and pliable, and it iscomparable with sausage skins.

My smoking charge whether made individually as in a capsule, or in a sausage link and broken therefrom, or broken on or cut from a continuous cigarette formed, is inserted longitudinally into the bowl of a. pipe, the same being preferably moistened before inserting, and especially should the ends be moistened where the sausage link type is used. The charge is rammed into the. ,bowl, and the paper being moist becomes very flexible and yieldable, making a tight flt in the bowl. A sharp implement, such as the blade of a pocket knife, a needle, or some other suitable sheets.

puncturing implement, is'used to puncture both ends of the smoking charge to permit draught. Upon lighting, the cellophane burns slowly circumferentially igniting the charge as it proceeds thus maintaining combustion at the periphery of the charge, a most desirable feature.

The continuous cigarette type, or the sausagelike type, may be coiled or packed in any convenient manner suitable for cutting or breaking apart into individual charges, as desired; whereas. the individual smoking charges, such as the short cigarette or capsule type, may be sold or in proper cartons.

In this case, each smoking charge is detached from the other and may be markedsingly with the proper revenue stamp, or in boxes as other smoking mixtures are sold. I do not wish to limit myself, however, to that particular construction of an individual smoking charge, or to any particular material for a smoking oharge, or to any particular material for the wrapper thereof.

I have discovered that the product known as viscose is adapted for the wrapper, or container, both for the making of the capsule or the, if I may so express it, sausage product.

I do not wish to be limited, however, to the use of the substance, viscose, which is formed of highly purified cellulose being mercerized with caustic soda and the resulting alkali-cellulose being treated with carbon disulflde to form cellulose xanthate which is dissolved in water and caustic soda to form viscose, thin layers of viscose being coagulated by a solution of mineral salts and the cellulose regenerated by mineral acids; the sheet so obtained being washed, bleached and impregnated with a softener such as glycerine, and then dried; as any suitable cellulose may be used, as I have found cellulose practically a neutral burning substance, by which I mean without taste or flavor by itself.

I- have also discovered that viscose prepared from cellulose is a free-burning substance and suitable for smoking products as a wrapping substance, especially for cigarettes, cigars and cheroots.

I have also discovered that when used in a fluid condition bunches of smoking mixtures compacted may be dipped and have formed around the same the cellulose, forming an impervious wrapping means, this eliminating entirely the mechanical operation of sheet material formed previously to wrapping, the container in this case being formed around the bunch as made. The bunch before coating is preferably-formed of a moist Or conditioned tobacco and then compacted and seasoned'or dried to give it rigidity and shape.

This is ordinarily done in a heated mold.

term "viscose, I mean an inflammable product prepared from cellulose to form ithin laygrsrof,

viscose coag'ulated, treated and formed Having thus described I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The process of wrapping asmoking bunch to be used in a pipe bowl consisting. of forming a bunch when the materials thereof are -in 'a moist condition then pressing said bunch in a heated.

mold to drygthe same, then coating said bunch with a coating solution the major part of which is viscose, then permitting said coating to solidify thereby forming a wrapper for said bunch. V

2. The process of casing viscose consisting of coating the surface thereof with a petuning fluid. 3. The process of casing viscose-consisting of are.

coating the surface thereof with a casing consisting of a solution of tobacco.

4. A plurality of smoking charges formed integral separated by a narrowing of the container between the charges whereby by the breaking of the container at the narrowed portion thereof the charges are separated.

5. A plurality of smoking charges contained within a substantially inflammable, neutral'and water-proof container formed integral separated by a narrowing of the container between the bunches whereby by the breaking of the container at the narrowed portion thereof the charges are separated.

sum

15 6. A plurality of smoking charges contained within a viscose container formed integral separated by a narrowing or the container between the bunches, whereby by the breaking of the container at the narrowed portion thereof the charges are separated.

7. A smoking charge comprising a container of cellulose xanthate formed into viscose, coagulated, treated and reduced to flexible sheet form, a smoking mixture in one portion of the container, a smoking mixture in another portion of the container, said portions of the container being connected to each other by a twist in the container wrapper intermediate said portions.

JOHN L. BROWN. 

